Affligem abbey
beers.
The abbey of Affligem was probably founded 1074
by six hermits, a group of knights who repented of their violent way of
life. Hermann II, Count Palatine of Lotharingia (1061–1085) and his
guardian, Anno II, archbishop of Cologne (d. 1075) are considered
official founders. The count Palatine donated the land on which to build
the abbey church. The first St Peterchurch was erected in 1083. The Rule
of St Benedict was adopted in 1085 and the abbey was dedicated in 1086.
The counts of Brabant, also counts of Leuven, became their protectors
(Vögte) in 1085/1086. A number of their family members are buried in the
abbey church, including (it is believed) Queen Adeliza of England (d.
1151), as well as her father Duke Godfrey I of Leuven (d. 1139). The
tomb of Queen Adeliza is lost.
During the 12th century, the abbey became known for its strict
observance of the discipline of the Cluniac reforms.
One notable monk during this period was John Cotton, whose treatise "De
musica" (c. 1100-1121) is one of the earliest of musical theses,
covering the ecclesiastical use of monody in the organum and the roots
of polyphony.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux visited Affligem in 1146, where he is said to
have had a vision of the Blessed Virgin, in memory of which he gave the
abbey his staff and chalice, which are still preserved in the abbey
today.
Another eminent monk of this period was Jan of Afflighem, Jan van
Ruusbroec's Good Cook in the Victorine monastery of Groenendaal, near
Brussels, whose importance in the survival of theology in the wake of
the Black Death is understated, as his theological thinking strongly
influenced Gerard Groot, who taught Thomas à Kempis.
Several monasteries, among them Maria Laach Abbey in Germany, were
founded by the monks of Affligem.
In 1523, Affligem joined the Bursfelde Congregation, a union of
Benedictine monasteries formed in the 15th century for the stricter
observance of the Benedictine rule. In 1569, the Archbishop of Mechelen
became commendatory abbot and exercised his authority through a dean, an
institution that lasted until the dissolution of the abbey in 1796.
Archbishop Jacob Boonen introduced the Monte Cassino observance. At his
insistence, the Prior of Affligem, Benedict van Haeften, founded in 1627
a new congregation, B. M. V. in Templo Praesentat, which included
Affligem and several other Belgian monasteries. It was dissolved in
1654.
In 1796, during the French occupation, the monks were dismissed, part of
the buildings destroyed and the lands confiscated. The last dean, Beda
Regaus, preserved the miraculous image of Our Lady, as well as the staff
and chalice of Saint Bernard. These came into the possession of a
Benedictine monk, Veremund Daens, who in 1838 established a new
foundation at Dendermonde.
In 1869/70, the abbey of Affligem was re-established. It is now a member of the Flemish Province of the Subiaco Congregation within the
Benedictine Confederation. Beer with a history.
The abbey of Affligem was founded around 1074. The label "anno 1074" on
the Affligem beer bottles is based on the foundation history. The brand
name is used under licence from the monks of Affligem, by the Op-Ale
brewery in the neighbouring village of Opwijk. The brewery is now owned
by Heineken International, who have renamed it the Affligem brewery and
market the beers internationally.

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